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Amateur players are getting the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against elite players - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will receive £490,000

For comparison, players who reached the final four of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The US Open organized a restructured, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut single-point competition in the current season, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his progress concluded when he sent the single service opportunity allowed into the net in his penultimate round

Tournament Specifics

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to follow a comparable structure to this year's edition

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will occur in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Details

Local players - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which everyday players, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and sport stars can enter

It commences on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for the following day's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the prize. Entries will start imminently at facilities across the country"

Competition planners said there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be involved